Fresh from the Field

Our latest assessments from Kenya reveal more than just garden growth, they show gains in income, nutrition, community cohesion, and regenerative growing practices. From doubling vegetable diversity to cutting food insecurity in half, these numbers tell a hopeful story. Explore the findings and what they mean for the future of food security in Western Kenya. Keep reading below.

This May, DIG Kenya completed endline assessments for our 2023-2024 cohort of farmers in Western Kenya. 

These assessments are part of our regular monitoring and evaluation cycle, conducted at three key moments:

  • Before the program begins (baseline)
  • Halfway through the program (midline)
  • Six months after graduation (endline).

This process helps us measure progress across DIG’s Five Pillars of Impact and continuously refine our approach.

It’s always exciting when new data and this latest round brings some valuable insights. Here’s a quick look at what we’re finding:

Agroecology Adoption Is Sticking

At the start of the program, farmers reported:

  • 2 agroecological practices on average were used by each farmer before.

At the end of the program, farmers reported:

  • 8 agroecological practices on average were used by each farmer by the endline.

This tells us that the practices we teach are not only being adopted but sustained.

In the words of one DIG facilitator, Vincent Onyongo, “People will only continue if what they are doing works for them. Our job is to teach the methods that will work for them today and improve their success long term.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Variety Different Crops, More Resilience

  • x2 Farmers more than doubled the number of vegetable types grown in their gardens.

This increase in diversity is key. It improves dietary quality and boosts climate resilience—giving families more to eat and more to fall back on if a crop fails due to drought, pests, or flooding.

A 50% Drop in Food Insecurity

One of the most striking findings was a 50% improvement in food security. Using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), a widely used and accepted assessment tool, we saw average scores drop from:

  • 9.55 at baseline to 4.77 at endline.

Even for farmers who still experienced some insecurity, the severity had decreased. This is a huge step forward for households that once struggled to feed their families on a daily basis.

DIG Gardens Grow Both Income and Empowerment

For many participants, DIG’s program is their first experience with entrepreneurship. By growing diverse, nutrient-rich produce, graduates are not only feeding their families, they’re feeding their communities and earning real income.

On average, the monthly garden income for our graduates increased by 82%. And since a majority of our farmers in Kenya are women, this income gain also advances women’s empowerment and gender equity, reinforcing the ripple effect of DIG’s work.

Social Cohesion Is Rising

Perhaps the most human indicator of success came in the form of connection.

  • At baseline, only 48% of farmers reported feeling “very connected” to their communities.
  • By endline, that number had climbed to 79%.

Why does this matter? DIG KENYA works intentionally with people who are often left behind, those living with HIV, people with disabilities, young mothers, and survivors of gender-based violence. When these farmers report feeling more seen, valued, and engaged in their communities, it’s not just a program win, it’s a societal shift.



DIG Kenya is Now Registered Kenyan NGO

As global aid grows more uncertain, DIG’s move to establish DIG KENYA as an independent, locally led nonprofit is more than a milestone—it’s a lifeline. Local leadership is the future of resilience, and this shift ensures our work will endure even when foreign aid fades. Learn more about why this matters and how it’s reshaping the future of DIG in Kenya.

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